Learning Through Reddit: Can The Front Page of the Internet Teach Adults Anything?

Hi everyone! I hope you are having a great week!

 

Last week, I shared my first experience using Reddit, reflecting on its complexities and potential as a space for engagement. Building on that initial exploration, I have been thinking more critically about how Reddit functions as a site for adult learning.

One of the most compelling aspects of Reddit is its decentralized, user-generated content model. Subreddits like r/AskAcademia offer a fascinating space where early-career scholars, seasoned professors, and curious outsiders engage in conversations about the realities of academic life. From advice on navigating PhD programs to honest discussions about mental health in academia, this subreddit functions as a peer-to-peer learning community. For me, lurking and participating in these threads has revealed how adults can learn through shared experiences, informal mentorship, and collective problem-solving.

A feature of Reddit that contributes to adult learning is the AMA (Ask Me Anything) thread. Experts, professionals, and public figures open themselves up to questions from the general public, often yielding rich, nuanced discussions that transcend the superficiality of typical internet discourse. For instance, AMAs featuring scientists, authors, or educators offer adults direct access to specialized knowledge without institutional barriers.

This democratization of expertise aligns with the principles of andragogy—Malcolm Knowles’ framework for adult learning, which I have already mentioned here, emphasizes self-direction and practical, problem-centered learning. Adults on Reddit seek out information that is immediately relevant to their interests or professional needs, often learning by asking questions, participating in dialogues, or simply observing the exchanges between others.

Engaging more deeply with Reddit over the past week has led me to reconsider the boundaries of where and how adult learning occurs. Platforms like Reddit exemplify how digital spaces can facilitate informal, self-directed, and community-based learning opportunities for adults across diverse fields and interests. As a PhD student, I have found value not only in consuming knowledge on Reddit but also in contributing to conversations, thus embodying both the role of learner and co-constructor of knowledge.

See you soon,

The Great Gatsby.

Comments

  1. Aastha BJune 5, 2025 at 9:20 PM

    Thank you for this insightful post! I really liked how you connected Reddit to adult learning and andragogy—especially the idea of self-directed, practical learning through communities like r/AskAcademia. I’ve also found those threads helpful, not just for information, but for the sense of shared experience.
    Your mention of AMAs is so true—they offer rare, direct access to experts in a way that feels both informal and meaningful. Reddit really does blur the lines between learning and community, reminding us that valuable education happens outside traditional spaces too.
    Thanks for sparking this reflection!

    ReplyDelete

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